New Online Resource Charts Federal and State Laws Governing Health Information
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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – WASHINGTON, May 23, 2012 — Researchers at The George Washington University’s Hirsh Health Law and Policy Program today announced the launch of Health Information and the Law (HealthInfoLaw.org), a website designed to serve as a practical online resource regarding federal and state laws governing access, use, release, and publication of health information. The site addresses the current legal and regulatory framework for health information, as well as changes in the legal and policy landscape that have an impact on health information law and its implementation.
HealthInfoLaw.org offers comprehensive materials on federal laws pertinent to health information. It also offers information on state laws that enables cross-state comparisons and comparison of state and federal law on key issues.
“Health information law exists at the intersection of many crucial and related fields: law, health care, public health, market competition, consumer protection, information technology, and health insurance. A modest change in any of these fields can trigger a daunting set of issues and challenges. HealthInfoLaw.org offers keys to understanding the laws that govern health information and their implications for health care, consumer rights, and population health,” says Sara Rosenbaum, JD, Harold and Jane Hirsh Professor of Health Law and Policy at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.
The site addresses the emerging legal issues that arise as health information moves fully into an electronic phase, as well as how the revolution in how health information is created, collected, and exchanged affects classic legal issues such as privacy, confidentiality, and liability for the quality and safety of health care. It offers insights into key legislation, including the HIPAA Privacy Rule, the HITECH Act (part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009), and the Affordable Care Act. The site will also offer materials related to the health information aspects of state health insurance exchanges as it becomes available.
HealthInfoLaw.org is a project of Legal Barriers, a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation at The George Washington University that creates resources for legal analysis to address a range of legal matters related to value-based purchasing, health information, and health-system reform aimed at quality, efficiency and information transparency.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For 40 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. Learn more at www.rwjf.org.
Web Site: http://www.HealthInfoLaw.org
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